As much as the Detroit Red Wings are looking to develop their younger talent, there are some holes in their lineup as seen by their second straight first round exit from the playoffs this past season. If Ken Holland and company are looking to improve the team, they can’t simply rely on guys like Marchenko and Ouelett to be top pairing defencemen right away; they have to acquire talent in their prime to add to the team’s current dynamic. The three players listed would all be fantastic to get, but this article is assuming that the Red Wings can only get on of them. Here’s some players they should consider taking a run at, should they be available on July 1st.

Francois Beauchemin

I know what you’re thinking: the last thing the Red Wings need is another ageing player. What you need to consider is the level that Beauchemin played at during this past season.

The 35-year-old defenceman fought off a broken finger and the mumps during this past season, and put up a respectable 23 points in 64 games. What makes Beauchemin valuable isn’t his offensive prowess, however, even though 9 of his 11 goals came at even strength.

(James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports)

His average time on ice this season was 22:45, which lead the team by a whole 59 seconds. On average, he played a minute more per game than the likes of Cam Fowler, Hampus Lindholm, and Sami Vatanen, all of whom were called on regularly for the Ducks. By comparison, Niklas Kronwall averaged 23:50 per game, and the next highest Red Wing was Danny Dekeyser at 20:56, a nearly three-minute difference. The Red Wings need someone they can trust to eat up big minutes for them, while being a stalwart defensively; Beauchemin may be right for the position of a number three or four defenceman. Plus, having another French speaking defenceman to mentor Xavier Ouellet wouldn’t be the worst thing ever. Beauchemin made $3.5 million last season, and would look to get a raise. If the Ducks choose to pass on him, the Red Wings may be able to get him for $4.5 – $5 million.

Cody Franson

At 27-years-old, Cody Franson is in his prime. He had 32 points in 55 games with Toronto before he was traded to Nashville where his season tailed off. Franson struggled to fit the Nashville system where he was no longer playing 20 plus minutes a game, and only contributed 4 points in his 23 games as a Predator.

Franson is a 6-foot-5 right-handed defenceman with a deadly release. Realistically, he’s everything the Red Wings need, and were hoping for in Marek Zidlicky. If the Wings let Zidlicky and his $3 million dollar salary walk, they would have the room necessary for Franson to fit on the first pairing with Niklas Kronwall. Franson is at his best when he is playing first pairing minutes, and he has the skill to do so in Detroit.

The issue with touting Franson is a first pairing defenceman, is that the Red Wings would have to pay him like one. Franson will be looking for a multi-year deal, north of $5 million a year. The Wings need to make a splash, and don’t want to give away many of their prospects at this point, so perhaps signing Franson to a 4 year deal, worth $5.5 a year would do the trick. He would help them out immediately on the offensive side, and paired with the likes of Kronwall could be relied on defensively as well.

Related: Red Wings Trade Talk: Is Cody Franson the Missing Piece

Barret Jackman

It was reported recently that the Blues were not planning on re-signing 34-year-old Barret Jackman to a contract this season. The Trail, B.C. native was taken 17th overall in 1999, and beat out Henrik Zetterberg for the Calder Trophy in 2003. Jackman really made an impact on the NHL during his rookie season when the Blues surprised the Canucks and took them to a game 7 in the 2002-2003 Conference Quarterfinals. A then 22-year-old Jackman was asked to shutdown one of the most dominant power forwards in the league at the time, Todd Bertuzzi. Bertuzzi had 97 points that season, and was looking to continue that dominance into the post-season; unfortunately for Bertuzzi, Jackman was up to the task. Bertuzzi was held to 1 goal in those 7 games, and Jackman averaged 21:59 time on ice that series, playing even more than Bertuzzi’s 20:49.

Barret Jackman’s tenure with the Blues is over. (Icon SMI)

Ever since his first step in the NHL, Jackman has been an underrated shutdown defenceman. He hasn’t been a minus player since 2008-2009, and was a staggering +20 in 2011-2012 (his third season with +20 or more). Good for around 2 or 3 goals a season, Jackman would be a fantastic partner for the likes of Dekeyser, Marchenko, and a fantastic shutdown defenceman on a team that lacks solid defence. More than 50% of his zone starts are in the defensive zone, his Corsi for is 52.9%, which would slot him right in the middle of the Red Wings’ defensive corps, a steadying presence that the Wings could use.

Considering he made $3.25 million this past season, and the Blues are letting him walk for free, there is good chance the Wings could land him for $4 million a year or under. He would be an immediate upgrade on the backend that would play heavy, heavy minutes for the Wings. Not only is he tough as nails, the guy is also a sweetheart.

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